BACKGROUND: Five West African countries, including Nigeria are currently experiencing the largest, most severe, most complex outbreak of Ebola virus disease in history. This paper provided a chronology of outbreaks of Ebola virus disease in the West African sub-region and provided an update on efforts at containing the present outbreak. METHODS: Literature from Pubmed (MEDLINE), AJOL, Google Scholar and Cochrane database were reviewed. RESULTS: Outbreaks of Ebola, virus disease had frequently occurred mainly in Central and East African countries. Occasional outbreaks reported from outside of Africa were due to laboratory contamination and imported monkeys in quarantine facilities. The ongoing outbreak in West Africa is the largest and first in the sub-region; the number of suspected cases and deaths from this single current outbreak is already about three times the total of all cases and deaths from previous known outbreaks in 40 years. Prevention and control efforts are hindered not only by lack of a known vaccine and virus-specific treatment, but also by weak health systems, poor sanitation, poor personal hygiene and cultural beliefs and practices, including myths and misconceptions about Ebola virus disease--all of which are prevalent in affected countries. Constrained by this situation, the World Health Organisation departed from the global standard and recommended the use of not yet proven treatments to treat or prevent the disease in humans on ethical and evidential grounds. CONCLUSION: The large number of people affected by the present outbreak in West Africa and the high case-fatality rate calls for accelerated evaluation and development of the investigational medical interventions for life saving and curbing the epidemic. Meanwhile, existing interventions such as early detection and isolation, contact tracing and monitoring, and adherence to rigorous procedures of infection prevention and control should be intensified

BACKGROUND: Five West African countries, including Nigeria are currently experiencing the largest, most severe, most complex outbreak of Ebola virus disease in history. This paper provided a chronology of outbreaks of Ebola virus disease in the West African sub-region and provided an update on efforts at containing the present outbreak. METHODS: Literature from Pubmed (MEDLINE), AJOL, Google Scholar and Cochrane database were reviewed. RESULTS: Outbreaks of Ebola, virus disease had frequently occurred mainly in Central and East African countries. Occasional outbreaks reported from outside of Africa were due to laboratory contamination and imported monkeys in quarantine facilities. The ongoing outbreak in West Africa is the largest and first in the sub-region; the number of suspected cases and deaths from this single current outbreak is already about three times the total of all cases and deaths from previous known outbreaks in 40 years. Prevention and control efforts are hindered not only by lack of a known vaccine and virus-specific treatment, but also by weak health systems, poor sanitation, poor personal hygiene and cultural beliefs and practices, including myths and misconceptions about Ebola virus disease--all of which are prevalent in affected countries. Constrained by this situation, the World Health Organisation departed from the global standard and recommended the use of not yet proven treatments to treat or prevent the disease in humans on ethical and evidential grounds. CONCLUSION: The large number of people affected by the present outbreak in West Africa and the high case-fatality rate calls for accelerated evaluation and development of the investigational medical interventions for life saving and curbing the epidemic. Meanwhile, existing interventions such as early detection and isolation, contact tracing and monitoring, and adherence to rigorous procedures of infection prevention and control should be intensified

This study was conducted to investigate a reported disease outbreak among higher education student recruits in Bilate Military Centre; Sidamo Administrative Region. Out of the total patients of 5;245 who visited at the out-patient department 1;616 (30.1 per cent) were patients with diarrhoea. There were 99 patients admitted to the hospital out of which 27 (27.2 per cent) were diarrhoeal patients. There were no deaths reported. A total of 965 (75.6 per cent) were treated with antimicrobial; mainly Tetracyclines; Chloramphenicol; Metronidazole and Chloroquine. Only 114 (8.9 per cent) were treated with Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) while 86 (7.11 per cent) with Anti-diarrhoeal (Charcoal) and ORS. There was no proper excreta disposal and the water source was found to be bacteriologically non-potable. Among the 34 stool specimens collected for culture and sensitivity tests; the genus Shigella was isolated in 6 patients; where 4 were Shigella flexneri (Group B) and 2 were Shigella dysenteriae (Group A) one type 1 (Shiga's Bacillus) and the other type 2 (Schmitz's Bacillus). Shigella dysenteriae serogroups 1 and 2 showed resistance to eight and seven drugs including Trimethoprim Sulpha-Methoxazole (TSM) respectively. This study highlights the importance of safe water and improvement of general hygiene and environmental sanitation for prevention and control of epidemics and indicates the importance of continuous surveillance of drug resistant Shigella for the control of outbreaks of Shigellosis

This study was conducted to investigate a reported disease outbreak among higher education student recruits in Bilate Military Centre; Sidamo Administrative Region. Out of the total patients of 5;245 who visited at the out-patient department 1;616 (30.1 per cent) were patients with diarrhoea. There were 99 patients admitted to the hospital out of which 27 (27.2 per cent) were diarrhoeal patients. There were no deaths reported. A total of 965 (75.6 per cent) were treated with antimicrobial; mainly Tetracyclines; Chloramphenicol; Metronidazole and Chloroquine. Only 114 (8.9 per cent) were treated with Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) while 86 (7.11 per cent) with Anti-diarrhoeal (Charcoal) and ORS. There was no proper excreta disposal and the water source was found to be bacteriologically non-potable. Among the 34 stool specimens collected for culture and sensitivity tests; the genus Shigella was isolated in 6 patients; where 4 were Shigella flexneri (Group B) and 2 were Shigella dysenteriae (Group A) one type 1 (Shiga's Bacillus) and the other type 2 (Schmitz's Bacillus). Shigella dysenteriae serogroups 1 and 2 showed resistance to eight and seven drugs including Trimethoprim Sulpha-Methoxazole (TSM) respectively. This study highlights the importance of safe water and improvement of general hygiene and environmental sanitation for prevention and control of epidemics and indicates the importance of continuous surveillance of drug resistant Shigella for the control of outbreaks of Shigellosis

Background: Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever (EHF) has become well known all over the world; especially following the West African outbreak in Guinea; Sierra Leone and Liberia (December 2013). The Ebola virus was first discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); an African country that has continued to register Ebola outbreaks. This study aims to summarize old and new experiences of Ebola in the DRC; in order to propose strategies for better prevention.Materials and Methods: Information was taken from databases such as PubMed and Cochrane library. A total of eleven full text and three abstracts were identified for the data extraction. Results: Since its discovery in the DRC; there have been seven Ebola outbreaks; accounting for a total of 1032 cases and 795 deaths. The presence of Non-Human Primates; also considered as the natural reservoir and susceptible host of Ebola virus; can be one major factor that has contributed to the increased number of Ebola outbreaks and cases in the Equatorial region. The existence of rumors and legends related to Ebola in DRC obscure the the viral nature of the disease; and lead to difficulty for health workers; to easily accomplish their tasks.Conclusion :It is important ;to scale up community education campaigns designed to give more details on the viral nature of the EHF; establish national agencies and institutions specialized in controlling hunting in the Equatorial region; for better prevention; since there is not yet a specific drug or vaccine to the Ebola Virus.

Background: Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever (EHF) has become well known all over the world; especially following the West African outbreak in Guinea; Sierra Leone and Liberia (December 2013). The Ebola virus was first discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); an African country that has continued to register Ebola outbreaks. This study aims to summarize old and new experiences of Ebola in the DRC; in order to propose strategies for better prevention.Materials and Methods: Information was taken from databases such as PubMed and Cochrane library. A total of eleven full text and three abstracts were identified for the data extraction. Results: Since its discovery in the DRC; there have been seven Ebola outbreaks; accounting for a total of 1032 cases and 795 deaths. The presence of Non-Human Primates; also considered as the natural reservoir and susceptible host of Ebola virus; can be one major factor that has contributed to the increased number of Ebola outbreaks and cases in the Equatorial region. The existence of rumors and legends related to Ebola in DRC obscure the the viral nature of the disease; and lead to difficulty for health workers; to easily accomplish their tasks.Conclusion :It is important ;to scale up community education campaigns designed to give more details on the viral nature of the EHF; establish national agencies and institutions specialized in controlling hunting in the Equatorial region; for better prevention; since there is not yet a specific drug or vaccine to the Ebola Virus.

Background: This study aim was to investigate an outbreak of human cases of unexplained influenza-like illness and fatal acute respiratory infection (ARI); with simultaneous poultry illness and high mortality raising concerns of possible influenza A (H5N1); virus in Cote d'Ivoire in February and March 2007. Materials and Methods: To investigate the outbreak; we conducted active surveillance in the community and reviewed health registries. Persons meeting the case definition were asked to provide nasopharyngeal specimens. On the basis of clinical and epidemiological information; specimens were tested using conventional RT-PCR for the M gene of the influenza viruses and hemagglutinin H5 of avian influenza A (H5N1); virus; negative samples were tested for other respiratory viruses. Specimens from healthy animals were also collected. Results: Between October 2006; and February 2007; 104 suspected cases of Acute Respiratory Disease that included; 31 deaths recorded. We collected and tested 73 nasopharyngeal specimens; of which; 2; were positive for human Coronavirus OC43 and 1 for influenza C virus. No pathogens were identified in animal specimens. Conclusions: The investigation quickly ruled out influenza A (H5N1); virus as the cause and found laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza C virus and human Coronavirus OC 43 for the first time in both Cote d'Ivoire and in a Sub-Saharan African country. However we were not able to show that these viruses caused the outbreak. Monitoring of influenza viruses must be a priority but other respiratory viruses and non-viral causes may be of interest too.

Background: This study aim was to investigate an outbreak of human cases of unexplained influenza-like illness and fatal acute respiratory infection (ARI); with simultaneous poultry illness and high mortality raising concerns of possible influenza A (H5N1); virus in Cote d'Ivoire in February and March 2007. Materials and Methods: To investigate the outbreak; we conducted active surveillance in the community and reviewed health registries. Persons meeting the case definition were asked to provide nasopharyngeal specimens. On the basis of clinical and epidemiological information; specimens were tested using conventional RT-PCR for the M gene of the influenza viruses and hemagglutinin H5 of avian influenza A (H5N1); virus; negative samples were tested for other respiratory viruses. Specimens from healthy animals were also collected. Results: Between October 2006; and February 2007; 104 suspected cases of Acute Respiratory Disease that included; 31 deaths recorded. We collected and tested 73 nasopharyngeal specimens; of which; 2; were positive for human Coronavirus OC43 and 1 for influenza C virus. No pathogens were identified in animal specimens. Conclusions: The investigation quickly ruled out influenza A (H5N1); virus as the cause and found laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza C virus and human Coronavirus OC 43 for the first time in both Cote d'Ivoire and in a Sub-Saharan African country. However we were not able to show that these viruses caused the outbreak. Monitoring of influenza viruses must be a priority but other respiratory viruses and non-viral causes may be of interest too.